Shouldn't let guards down': WHO tells southeast Asian countries over omicron

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday southeast Asian countries must scale up surveillance, strengthen health and social measures and enhance vaccination coverage as several countries across the world rushed to contain omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus that has the potential to be more resistant to vaccines.Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO's regional director of the southeast Asia region, said they should assess the risk of importation through international travel and take measures accordingly against omicron.”Though COVID-19 cases have been declining in most countries of our Region, the surge in cases elsewhere in the world and confirmation of…